Toilet odor reducing expandable ball

ABSTRACT

A device and method for reducing odor and splash in a toilet is provided. The device includes a plurality of dissolvable layers. An outer layer is configured to retain the inner layer in a compressed and compact shape prior to being saturated. The inner layer is surrounded at least partially by the outer layer. When saturated, the inner layer is configured to distribute across the surface of the water. The inner layer creates a barrier across the surface of the water and selectively releases an aromatic scent into the air. The device may be inserted into the toilet bowl at any time. The dissolvability rates of the various layers may be different from each other. Such rates may also be designed to be of different periods of time to suit particular needs.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present application relates to an odor reducing device for a toilet,and more particularly to a dissolvable device inserted into toilets toreduce splash and odor.

2. Description of Related Art

Various aspects of toilets and toilet usage can be deemed to be gross,unclean, and unpleasing. For example, smells generated while using thetoilet and those smells that linger and spread outside the restroomthereafter can be embarrassing. Additionally, undesired splashing of thetoilet water onto the user can also be unpleasant. Various devices havebeen developed in an attempt to help with splashing and odor control.

Some devices include a deodorant and sterilizing anti-splash ball thathas an internal dissolvable container. The ball is distributedthroughout the water in an attempt to minimize splashes. Another deviceis a deodorizing, sterilizing, and anti-splashing device for a toilethaving a body partially suspended in the water in a submerged state. Thebody retains a size larger than the toilet drain. Another splash deviceis designed to sit within the drain. These devices tend to focus on thedrain portion of the toilet and fail to affect the entire surface of thewater. Additionally, these appear to only introduce a solution into thewater in an attempt to control odor.

Although strides have been made to reduce odors and minimize splashingin toilets during use, considerable shortcomings remain. A new devicethat is designed to regulate splashing over the entire surface of thewater and yield an odor reducing effect within the water and/or designedto emanate above the water level is desired.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed characteristic of the application are setforth in the appended claims. However, the application itself, as wellas a preferred mode of use, and further objectives and advantagesthereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detaileddescription when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an odor reducing expandable ballaccording to an embodiment of the present application.

FIG. 2 is a section view of the odor reducing expandable ball of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a toilet including the odor reducing expandableball of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the toilet of FIG. 3 with the odor reducingexpandable ball of FIG. 1 dispersing across the surface of the toiletwater.

While the device and method of the present application is susceptible tovarious modifications and alternative forms, specific embodimentsthereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are hereindescribed in detail. It should be understood, however, that thedescription herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit theapplication to the particular embodiment disclosed, but on the contrary,the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, andalternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the process of thepresent application as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Illustrative embodiments of the preferred embodiment are describedbelow. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actualimplementation are described in this specification. It will of course beappreciated that in the development of any such actual embodiment,numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve thedeveloper's specific goals, such as compliance with system-related andbusiness-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation toanother. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effortmight be complex and time-consuming but would nevertheless be a routineundertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit ofthis disclosure.

In the specification, reference may be made to the spatial relationshipsbetween various components and to the spatial orientation of variousaspects of components as the devices are depicted in the attacheddrawings. However, as will be recognized by those skilled in the artafter a complete reading of the present application, the devices,members, apparatuses, etc. described herein may be positioned in anydesired orientation. Thus, the use of terms to describe a spatialrelationship between various components or to describe the spatialorientation of aspects of such components should be understood todescribe a relative relationship between the components or a spatialorientation of aspects of such components, respectively, as the devicedescribed herein may be oriented in any desired direction.

The device and method in accordance with the present applicationovercomes one or more of the above-discussed problems commonlyassociated with traditional security devices for doors. In particular,the device is an expandable ball configured to selectively release anaromatic scent to minimize and mask odor from a toilet area.Additionally the ball is configured to selectively dissolve in thetoilet water and includes dissolvable netting or binders that at leastinitially partially surround and hold water absorbent tissue. The tissueemits an aromatic or pleasant odor when deployed into a toilet. Thebinders dissolve away while the tissue spreads out on the surface of thewater to prevent backsplash when feces drop into the toilet. These andother unique features of the device are discussed below and illustratedin the accompanying drawings.

The device and method will be understood, both as to its structure andoperation, from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying description. The device and method of the presentapplication is illustrated in the associated drawings. The deviceincludes an expandable ball consisting of at least two layers: an outerlayer and an inner layer. The inner layer is configured to selectivelydisperse across the surface of the toilet water. The method includesplacing the expandable ball in the toilet water before or after usage ofthe toilet. Additional features and functions of the device areillustrated and discussed below.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters identifycorresponding or similar elements in form and function throughout theseveral views. FIGS. 1-4 illustrate assorted views of a toilet odorreducing expandable ball 101 of the present application. In FIG. 1, ball101 is illustrated. Ball 101 is configured of multiple layers that areat least partially dissolvable in a liquid. FIG. 2 illustrates a sectionview of ball 101. The views of FIGS. 1 and 2 are exemplary in nature andserve as one type of embodiment of ball 101. It is conceived that othermethods of accomplishing the same purposes are possible.

As seen in FIG. 2, ball 101 has at least 2 layers, namely an outer layer103 and an inner layer 105. Both layers are configured of waterdissolvable substances such that they dissolve upon contact with water.The rates of dissolving can vary between the layers, however, to ensureproper function of ball 101. Inner layer 105 is at least partiallysurrounded by outer layer 103. Outer layer 103 is configured to wraparound inner layer 105 so as to maintain inner layer 105 in a compressedand/or compact configuration.

Outer layer 103 may take many types of forms. For example, outer layer103 may be a mesh wherein the inner layer 105 is exposed through one ormore apertures in the outer layer. This variation of outer layer 103would permit both outer layer 103 and inner layer 105 to contact thewater simultaneously. In another example, outer layer 103 may beconfigured to fully encompass inner layer 103. For instance, outer layer103 may be a singular coating. Furthermore, outer layer 103 may be aseries of straps or member bonded together. In this type of variation,outer layer 103 is configured to contact the water first and begin todissolve prior to saturation of any portion of inner layer 105.

Inner layer 105 is also dissolvable in the water. The rate at whichinner layer 105 dissolves can vary from that of outer layer 103. Ideallythe time period for dissolving of outer layer 103 is far shorter thanthat of inner layer 105. Inner layer 105 is a light weight material thatis configured to float on water. A paper based product such as a tissuelike paper is preferred. This type of material is not herein meant to belimiting. Other materials are also suitable.

Inner layer 105 is infused with an aromatic scent material. This scentmaterial is ideally a dry material. It may be a powder configured toadhere to a surface of inner layer 105. In other embodiments the scentmaterial may be infused with inner layer 105 wherein the scent materialwas a liquid prior to infusion. Naturally other examples exist withrespect to dry and liquid forms of scent materials. In either case, whensaturated, inner layer 105 is configured to selectively release anaromatic scent into the air within the toilet bowl. This scent serves tomask and/or eliminate scents from waste placed in the toilet bowl (i.e.urine and/or feces) or gas released by the user.

Referring now also to FIGS. 3 and 4 in the drawings, various views ofball 101 is shown within a toilet bowl and in contact with water. Ball101 is configured to be placed in the water at any time. Such times maybe just prior to sitting down on the toilet seat or after the toilet hasflushed. By designing ball 101 to have elongated or shortened dissolvingtime periods, a user is able to suit either situation. Upon contact withthe water, ball 101 is saturated and the process for dissolving begins.As stated previously, depending upon the configuration of outer layer103, saturation and the associated dissolving of inner layer 105 may bedelayed when compared to outer layer 103.

As the outer layer 103 dissolved, inner layer 105 is released from itscompact and restricted positioning. Inner layer 105 begins to expandinto an extended position as it becomes saturated. As inner layer 105 isconfigured to float, inner layer 105 operates to spread out across thesurface of the water in the toilet. Inner layer 105 can be sized to anysize so as to have a selected length and width. It is preferred thatinner layer 105 be configured to cover the entire surface of the water.Because toilet bowls may vary in size, inner layer 105 may contact thetoilet bowl and may even extend upward across its surface, adjacent thewater. In both of the present Figures, arrows are shown illustrating theexpanding effect of inner layer 105 across the surface of the water.

Elimination or reduction of odor is accomplished through the dispersionof inner layer 103 across the surface of the water and through therelease of the aromatic scent. The scent is released over time. Thescent masks unpleasing smells. Additionally, unpleasing smells arereduced by inner layer 105 creating a barrier across the surface of thewater. This barrier inhibits the release of smells from within the waterand escaping into the air. Inner layer 105 is configured to restraintheir release into the air.

This barrier also is useful in minimizing splashes of objects (i.e.urine and feces) into the water of the toilet. Object that fall into thetoilet bowl contact inner layer 105 which acts to suppress thedispersion of water by serving as a blanket or barrier across the watersurface. Upon entry, inner layer 105 may be configured to either retainits shape and form, such that inner layer 105 becomes partiallysubmerged into the water (no separation in layer 105 is seen); or innerlayer 105 may selectively separate into a plurality of members whereinfalling objects act to create holes in inner layer 105. Inner layer 105may selectively reseal any holes as the water surface calms down.Resealing of the holes can occur as inner layer 105 dissolves andfurther expands when expansion room is provided.

The current application has many advantages over the prior art includingat least the following: (1) reduced odor; (2) minimized splash; (3)slowly dissolvable layers; (4) varied dissolvability rates; and (5)fully floating barrier created across the surface of the water by theinner layer.

The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only and arenot intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the preciseform disclosed, as the embodiments may be modified and practiced indifferent but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the arthaving the benefit of the teachings herein. It is therefore evident thatthe particular embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified,and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit ofthe application. Accordingly, the protection sought herein is as setforth in the description. It is apparent that an application withsignificant advantages has been described and illustrated. Although thepresent application is shown in a limited number of forms, it is notlimited to just these forms, but is amenable to various changes andmodifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for reducing odor and splash in atoilet, comprising: an outer layer that is dissolvable in water; and aninner layer surrounded at least partially by the outer layer, the innerlayer dissolvable in the water, the inner layer configured to distributeacross the surface of the water when saturated, the inner layerconfigured to release an aromatic scent into the air when saturated;wherein the outer layer is configured to retain the inner layer in acompressed and compact shape prior to being saturated.
 2. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the inner layer is configured to float on the surfaceof the water.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the inner layer isconfigured to have a slower dissolving time than the outer layer.
 4. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the outer layer is a mesh.
 5. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the outer layer is configured to release the innerlayer after being saturated for a selected period of time.
 6. The deviceof claim 1, wherein the inner layer is a paper based product with thearomatic scent being infused into the paper based product.
 7. The deviceof claim 1, wherein the inner layer is configured to reduce splash asobjects contact the surface of the water.
 8. The device of claim 7,wherein in the inner layer is configured to submerge within the waterwith the objects.
 9. The device of claim 7, wherein the inner layer isconfigured to selectively separate from contact with the objects. 10.The device of claim 1, wherein the inner layer is configured to create abarrier to stop odors escaping through the surface of the water.
 11. Amethod of reducing odor and splash in a toilet, comprising obtaining thedevice of claim 1; inserting the device into the toilet such that thedevice contacts the water; dissolving the outer layer from contact withthe water; and releasing the inner layer across the surface of thewater; wherein saturation of the inner layer causes the inner layer toexpand across the water surface.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein theinner layer expands such that the entire surface of the water is coveredby the inner layer.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the rate ofdissolving between the inner layer and the outer layer are different.14. The method of claim 11, wherein inner layer is configured to have aslower dissolving time than the outer layer.
 15. The method of claim 11,wherein the outer layer is a mesh.
 16. The method of claim 11, whereinthe outer layer is configured to release the inner layer after beingsaturated for a selected period of time.
 17. The method of claim 11,wherein the inner layer is a paper based product with the aromatic scentbeing infused into the paper based product.
 18. The method of claim 11,wherein the inner layer is configured to reduce splash as objectscontact the surface of the water.